Flying Eagles coach, Manu Garba, has
expressed happiness that his team has accomplished brilliantly the first task
of qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand with their 4-1
thrashing of Congo on Wednesday at the ongoing African Youth Championship (AYC)
in Senegal. “I’m grateful to Almighty God for qualifying for the FIFA U-20
World Cup.
It was a great victory playing most
part of the game with 10 men. To score seven goals in two matches is no easy
job. I believe we are a strong side.
“My boys have done very well. Our
target is to win all the matches and that means winning the trophy as well.
The first part of the job has been
with qualification for the World Cup. Now, the other target is to go to the
World Cup as African champions,” Garba told cafonline.com.
Like Coach Garba, Flying Eagles
midfielder, Chidera Ezeh, is equally excited at the team’s qualification. “We
are happy to have qualified for the World Cup.
The job is not done yet. Our aim is
to win all our matches at the tournament. Against Cote d’Ivoire, we will be
looking for a win as well.
They beat us in the final of the
Africa U-17 Championship in Morocco in 2013 and we want to avenge that loss,”
Ezeh said.
Nigeria plays the last Group A match
tomorrow against the Junior Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, and the Ivorians who
snatched a last minute 2-2 draw with hosts Senegal on Wednesday, are upbeat
about securing a World Cup ticket with the game against Flying Eagles.
“The draw is a fair result because
we worked for the equaliser and got it at the last minute. Qualification for
the World Cup will be good for the improvement of my team.
The players need such tournament to
build on. We will put in our all against Nigeria to achieve our target,” Cote
d’Ivoire coach, Ibrahim Kamara said.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Ambassador to
Senegal, Katyen-C.Jackden, has predicted that the Flying Eagles will clinch a
seventh AYC title.
“We are proud of your performance so
far in this tournament and we are very certain Nigeria will win the cup here in
Senegal,” the NFF quoted the envoy as saying in a statement yesterday.
She added, “Your technique is
perfect and you play computerised football. So, I know you will not go back to
Nigeria without the cup.”
“I have watched your two games at
the stadium so far and will also be in Mbour for your game against Cote
d’Ivoire on Saturday.”
